Do Breast Implants need to be replaced in 10 Years?

Tags:breasts cost

I am thinking about getting breast implants but is it true that you need to replace them every ten years? That type of cost is going to be tough to manage on a ten-year basis. Do you need to replace them regardless of how they are cared for? What if I buy really high quality implants that have a good shelf life?

Saline implants may be left in indefinitely. At some point, saline implants may rupture, which would result in noticeable deflation of the affected breast. For silicone implants, there is an FDA recommendation that you get an MRI after the first 3 years, and then every 2 years thereafter. Note that this is only a recommendation and not a requirement, and very few patients abide by it. That said, silicone implants have a 1% per year rupture rate, so in 10 years, there is a 10% chance that your implant will be ruptured. We strongly advise our patients not to "forget about their implants" and after 10-15 years then should either get an MRI to check on them, or proactively get them replaced at that time. All implants made are of comparable "quality", and all are warrantied for life. So if they do rupture, the company will replace them and give you money toward the replacement surgery.